Mark hosted SOBER Tuesday, and greeted us with the 1995 Bruno Paillard “Ne Plus Ultra” Champagne. Full, toasty, excellent lenght, just a bit oxidative. This is very nice in a Krugesque style. B+/A-
With a delicious soup the first blind flight (Dan got Rioja early)
Blind White #1 - fairly advanced , lemon, dill, waxy, somewhat odd, I wasn’t a fan.
1976 Lopez Heredia Tondonia Blanco C+
Blind White #2- full, spicy, coconut, got better and better. I guessed ‘64, never had a ‘66 before. 1966 Lopez Heredia Tondonia Blanco B+/A-
I wasn’t to guess producer/appellation on this flight, as I knew Mark was doing Ecard. Franco guessed Volnay, good guess, then group got.
Wine 3- lightest, strawberry and tomato, riding on its acids, nice . 1995 Ecard “Les Jarrons” Savigny les Beaune 1er. B+/B
Wine 4 - fullest to me (I guessed a 1999), rich black cherry fruit, some tannin, somewhat exotic nose with citrus peel and spice. 1995 Ecard “Les Narbantons” Savigny les Beaune 1er. A-/B+
Wine 5 - most people’s favorite of flight, structured, good dark fruit, earthy,
1995 Ecard Les Sepentieres Savigny les Beaune 1er B+
Then we had a couple of bottles not blind as we revisited the 95s and devoured Mark’s excellent cassoulet
1990 Ecard " Les Serpentieres" Savigny les Beaune 1er - my favorite of night, long and drinking perfectly, sandalwood dancing over mature but not tired black cherry and plum fruit, no hint of roastedness. A-
1990 Drouhin "Les Serpentieres" Savigny les Beaune 1er- delicate, good acids, fruit not quite as fresg as the Ecard but I liked a lot. B+
Next blind flight
Blind Red- full, big (I guessed Petite Sirah), just a hint of jammy but not at all bothersome, long, holding well. 1974 Ridge Lytton Springs. A-/B+
Blind Red - a bit more advanced, a light roasted note. cedary, ready to go. 1976 Joseph Swan Zinfandel B+/B
Last blind flight
Blind Red : Gorgeous, complex, lovely. Red fruits, cedar, a pleasant hint of pepper. Dan guessed Mondavi right away. 1975 Robert Mondavi Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon A-
Blind Red- lead pencil, black plum fruit, this isn’t bad but Mark (who has gone through a lot of this) thinks a non-representative bottle, and offers to get a replacement, but we’ve had enough wine. 1970 Ch. Giscours (B for this bottle, but not representative).
Very fun night.
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.